ISRAEL permitted 322 aid lorries to enter Gaza today as Palestinians in the territory continue to starve.

Though the delivery is the largest per day since Israel’s invasion began six months ago, it falls well short of what the United Nations says will be necessary to fend off the escalating humanitarian crisis in the devastated territory, and comes as international pressure over its handling of the war continues to grow.

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Israel’s co-ordinator of government activities in the Territories said 228 of the lorries — 77 per cent of the convoy — were carrying food.

However, none of the aid lorries from the south were reportedly allowed to reach the northern part of Gaza, which, according to the UN and other humanitarian groups, is facing famine.

Hisham Adwan, a spokesman for the authority managing the crossing in Rafah, told Al Jazeera news: “The strip is suffering from major famine, especially in the northern regions and Gaza City. 

“The south is also suffering from a major humanitarian catastrophe. Therefore, bringing aid in this daily manner is not sufficient.” 

Aid agencies say the aid reaching Gaza is nowhere near enough to meet the need. 

Sean Carroll, head of the American Near East Refugee Aid organisation, said: “To make up ground to meet the extreme gaps in food and other essentials for living, we need to see more than 500 trucks a day.”

But Israel has imposed a strict regime on food aid reaching Gaza.

On average, between 20 to 25 aid lorries a day are turned away from Gaza. The Israelis reportedly usually allow somewhere between 100 and 150 to enter each day.

But agencies attempting to deliver aid to the Palestinians say they are fearful for their security after the killing of seven World Central Kitchen workers by Israel on April 1.

Mr Carroll said: “The real issue is: who is going to deliver all this aid?” The UN relief agency for Palestinians is blocked from delivering aid to northern Gaza.

He said that after the killing of the aid workers, others are “extremely nervous” to do their work in Gaza.

The Gaza Health Ministry said the Palestinian death toll is now at least 33,175, two-thirds of whom are women and children.

This follows the 1,139 people who were killed during the Hamas attack on October 7.